Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
~Psalm 31:3

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Friday, May 6, 2011

It's Like The Power Of The Wind

I know it's horses for courses and all that, but I don't get Christians who don't like Keith Green. It's like Italians not liking spaghetti. Staple. I love these lyrics I was listening to this morning--

'All my life I've been searching for that crazy missing partAnd with one touch, You just rolled away the stone that held my heartAnd now I see that the answer was as easy, as just asking You inAnd I am so sure I could never doubt Your gentle touch againIt's like the power of the wind.'

Ben - you need to get out more :-) - next year, bring the family to Toowoomba for Easterfest (http://www.easterfest.com/) - massive festival of all genres of music by Christian artists including lots of people who'd fit in the same genre as Green and are very real and personal.

Thanks for the link. I liked it enough, in that it was pleasant and innoffensive. But not really up my ally.

Actually I don't reckon there are many if ANY who have come close. I think a lot of what's out there is well, just, pleasant. Like a Christian version of the love songs that get played on mainstream radio.

With Keith Green there was so much range, and the listener was really challenged. Some songs had joke lyrics, some he was on the verge of crying when he sung them. Some songs were from the pov of him the sinner. some were from thepov of God. some even from the pov of the devil. So much range, and a song for every mood you're feeling in your walk with God.

I remember vividly when I heard The Sheep and the Goats at about age 11. that blew me away, I'd never heard anything as passionate as that Chritian or otherwise, and that was like one of the first occasions where I really felt God's presence.

I don't want pleasant, easy listening, I want to be blown away and disturbed out my apathy.

The only other times I've gotten this with Christian music is with some extreme metal, or with something choral like Allegri's Miserere.

Thanks for those details, it helps to know what is grabbing you more in terms of content or style - I'll think about the artists I know who might fit that bill.

Bel's a friend, she wrote a song for a mutual friend when he was in hospital losing a leg and was touch and go. When she sang it at his wedding half the congregation was in tears. Unfortunately she doesn't have it on her myspace page so I can't link to it.

Thanks for the links Ben. He is stunningly honest, it comes through in the words and the way he sings and even his eye-contact. And he seems unconcerned with his own talent or image. Didn't have a deep effect on me, but I think it's a matter of soaking it in and matching it with personal experience.

I like pleasant music too. Brooke Fraser is top of my list. Something of the honesty, delicate mellow voice, but she isn't at all as raw as Keith Green.